Frame construction and hitch for farm implements



Sept. 28, 1954 R, FREV|K ET AL 2,690,109

FRAME CONSTRUCTION AND HITCH FOR FARM IMPLEMENTS Filed May 6, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l asf ` u" .ml/ 3" asd Sept. 28, 1954 R. C. FREVIK` ET Ar.

FRAME CONSTRUCTION AND HITCH F'OR FARM IMPLEMENT l nl? JNVENToRs PALO/f C. fefl//K BY @4V/140A@ W w/Jo/v Patented Slept. 28, 1954V l.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRAME CONSTRUCTION AND HITOH Fon FARM IMPLEMENTS Ralph C. Frevik, Detroit, and Raymond W. Wilson, Ferndale, Mich., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application May 6, 1950, Serial No. 160,424 8 Claims. (Cl. 9747.53)

This invention relates to an improved frame which will effectively localize all side draft efconstruction and hitch for a larm'implement,` fects on the tractor at al central point on the and particularly to an implement of the ground tractor rear axle, and thereby minimize interworking type which is subject to side draft durference with the steering and maneuverability of the tractor.

Many forms of ground working implements, A particular object of this invention is to proparticularly moldboard and disc plows, scrapers, vide an improved hitch arrangement for impleetc., are subjected to a considerable amount of ments subject to side draft for use with tractors which is commonly referred to as side draft. It l lifted trailing hitch linke, characterized by the stantial amount of side draftwill neverthless be the liftability of the implement through the opnherently transferred to the tractor drawing the eration of the power-lifted hitch links,

implement. In the case of well known types of Another object of this invention is to provide tractors having the so-called three point hitch a universal frame structure for farm implements linkage, embodying a pair of laterally spaced, which may be employed to mount single or multhe rear axle of the tractor and a central top llnUSi/lal manufacturing eC0n01ny.aS Well as peron such hitch linkage produces serious interferly apply the number of ground Werking UnltS t0 ence with the steering and maneuverability of the frame that he desires fOr' a particular Operathe tractor during the particular ground workmg tlOnoperation. Since it has been customary to posi-y The Specific nature 0f this invention, as Well tion the two transversely spaced draft links of aS Other OhJectS and advantages thereof. Will beside draft -exerted by an implement through such en Which, by Way of preferred example only, are

eral force operatlng on the tractor at the theo- 0n the. drawings retical point Of convergence of the hitch links, F1g- 1 1S a plan View 0f an implement frame which is adJacent to the front end of the tractor; and hltch embodying thlS lnVentlOn ShOWn 1n the The effective application of a force to the tractor Specl@ embodiment 0f a One Way plOW or disc cations in the steering of the tractor and it has relationship With a traetcr.

been heretofore necessary for the operator to Flg 2 1S an enlarged'scale side elevational view keep the front wheels of the tractor slightly 0f the implement Sh0WninF1'g.1. y

turned at all times in order to compensate for 4o .F'lg 3 is an enlarged scale partial sectional such side draft effects view taken on the plane `3 3 of Fig. 1.

Another disadvantage of known types of Fg- 4 iS an enlarged scale partial sectional ground working implements is the fact that they WGW taken en the plane l-4 of rig. 1. have not been designed SO as to be capable of IFIg. 5 ls an enlarged Scale Sectional convenient conversion from a single tool imple- Well/taken 0n the plane 5 5 0f Fig. Y1. ment toa multiple tool implement, as for eXam- F 1g; 6 I San enlarged Scale perspective View of ple,l a single disc plow of heretofore known types the hltchmg arrangement Provided at the front of construction could not be conveniently modi-l end of the tongue 0f the implement. ed to a multiple disc plow or a disc tiller type Fig. 7 s an enlarged scale sectional view taken of implement which fundamentally differs from 0n the plane 1-1 of Fig. 1. the single' disc plow only by the addition of addi- Fig. 8 1s a reduced scale elevational view illustonal ground Working discs. trating a modified form of main frame incorpo,-

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to rating a telcSCOpng C0nstruction. provide an improved hitch arrangement for- As shown on the drawings;

ground working implements subject to side draft This invention will be described and illustre mi 3 in connection with the type of farm implement known as a disc plow or disc tiller, but it should be distinctly understood that the features of this invention will have application to many other forms of ground engaging implements, such as cultivators, planters, etc.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral I represents the rear end portions of a well known make of tractor having a rear axle housing II and supporting wheels I2. At laterally sp-aced points on the rear axle housing II, a pair of trailing hitch I3 are universally pivoted thereto in such manner as to permit both vertical and Yhorizontal movements about their pivotal mountings. The normal position of hitch links I3 is a forwardly converging relationship with a theoretical point of intersection adjacent the front axle of the tractor. As is customary, a pair of lifting arms I4 are respectively connected to medial portions of the hitch links I3 and are operated by a hydraulic mechanism (not shown) contained within the tractor to impart a lifting force to the hitch links I3. the hitch links I3 carry spherical bearing units I3a which permit the links to be universally connected to suitable hitch pins provided on an implement to lwhich the tractor is connected. Also, at the lower central portion of 'the rear axle housing II a clevis hitch unit I5 is provided (-best shown in Fig. 6), and at the top central portion of rear axle housing I I a bracket I6 is provided which universally pivotally mounts a top hitch link I1. All of the foregoing structure is well known and further description is therefore deemed unnecessary.

In general, the implement frame construction embodying this invention constitutes a single elongated frame member, which may conveniently constitute a piece of pipe or tubing to which a plurality of tool mounting brackets are clamped at selected spaced ypositions therealong. In addition, a pair of hitch brackets are clamped to the main frame at the proper spacing to effect the connection of lthe implement to the trailing hitch links I3 of the tractor, and each hitch bracket mountsan upstanding strut, which struts define an A frame for yconnection to the top tractor link I1. Thus, as shown in Fig. l, the main frame member 120 may be formed of a continuous length of tubing bent into a generally L-shaped configuration vand having its long arm 20a disposed Vingenerally transverse, angular -relationship with respect to the path lof travel -of the implement. A plurality of tool mounting brackets 2I are provided, each of such brackets including a body portion 2m hav-ing a semicylindrical mounting ange .2lb integrally .formed thereon which cooperates witha semi-cylindrical clamp 2Ic to surround the tubular main frame 20 and is secured thereto in Kany selected position by a plurality of bolts 2Id. The other end wof each tool supporting bracket 2l is `connected 'to a bearing block 22 and such bearing blocks support a gang of earth working Adiscs (23 in conventional fashion. While the particular implement shown in the drawings employs eight discs 23. it will be obvious that any desired number `of discs from one on up may be conveniently incorporated in the described construction merely by proper selection of the length of the arm portion 20a of the main frame andthe spacing of the bearing brackets 2I therealong. Obviously, for units employing akmuch larger number .of discs, additional bearing brackets 2| may be provided.

To effect the mounting of the implement tothe in such manner as to minimize the draft on the tractor, this invention employs a pair of hitch brackets 24 which are of identical construction, although mounted on the main tubular frame 29 in reversed relationship. Each hitch bracket y2li is .a casting comprising a main body portion having a semicylindrically shaped flange 24a formed on one side thereof. A semi-cylindrically shaped cap Zlib is provided to cooperate with each flange 24a to surround the main tubular frame 20 and to be clamped thereto at a selected location by bolts 24C. In addition, hitch bracket 24 defines a vertical pivot bearing bore 24d in which the vertical leg 25a of an inverted L-shaped hitch pin 25 is journalled for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. Hitch pin 25 may be retained in pivot bearing bore 24d by a pin 26. The horizontal arms 25h of the pivot pins 25 are respectively pivotally connected to the spherical type bearings I3a in the ends of the hitch links I3 and secured therein by linch pins 21.

As previously indicated, the bearing brackets 24 are identical, but mounted on the tubular main frame 29 with their vertical pivot bearing bores 24d respectively disposed on opposite s ides of such main frame, which is readily possible due to the angular disposition of the ymain .frame relative to the tractor. An upstanding A-frame 28, as such is popularly called in the art, is mounted on the main frame 20 in any convenient manner. For example, A-frame 28 may comprise a generally inverted U-shaped member 28a yhaving its free end portions respectively secured as by welding to the caps 24h of the bearing brackets 24. A U-shaped connector 28h is then welded to the vertex portion of A-frame 28 and pivotally mounts the tractor top link I1 .between its arm portions on a pivot pin I1a.

Each of the hitch lbrackets 2B `are additionally provided with a depending ear 24e which defines a horizontal pivot bearing bore 24f. A generally V-shaped tongue structure V29, Fig. l, is provided having tractor effect of side forwardly converging side'members 29a respective pivotally connected at their rear ends to the implement by pivot 4pins i291) linserted in the horizontal pivot bearing bores 2.4i. At their forward ends, the converging yarms 29e are rigidly interconnected by a brace 29e and va transversely `disposed hitch plate 29d is journalled in the extreme forward ends kof the arms 29a for pivotal Amovement around `a horizontal axis. For example, a pin 29e Amay be inserted through a suitable hole extending vtransversely through the hitch plate 29d Aand :the projecting ends of such pin journalled in suitable holes vprovided in the ends of the arm portions 29a ,and retained in assembly thereon .by .linch pins 29j. I-Iitch plate 29d is provided with a plurality of transversely spaced, vertical holes 129g, each one of which ma-y be selectively engaged by a hitch pin 15a carried by the tractor clevis yhitch I5. In this manner, some adjustment of the lateral position of the tongue unit 29 with respect -to the tractor may be conveniently obtained.

From theforegoing description, it will be noted that the .tongue Vunit .29 does not interfere in .any manner with the raising of .the implement from the ground by lifting of rthe tractor hitch links I3. The horizontal pivotal connections respectively between the ends of the tongue unit 29 and the tractor and the implement permit the implement to be freely raised. Any difference in effective `radius -of the lifting movement .of the hitch links `I3 and the tongue unit `29 is accomto the tractor at modated by the vertical pivot bearing connection between the hitch links and the implement provided by the pivot pins 25. However, the tongue unit 29 does positively restrain any lateral movements of the implement with respect to the tractor to movements about the vertical axis dened by the hitch pin ia. As a result, any side draft forces exerted on the implement while operating in the ground are transmitted to the tractor solely by the hitch pin |5a and hence are transmitted a point substantially centrally located between the tractor rear wheels. No side draft forces can be transmitted to the tractor through the hitch links I3 by Virtue of the vertical pivot connections between such hitch links and the implement provided by the inverted L-shaped pivot pins 25.

It has been customary heretofore to attempt to absorb some of the side draft inherent in the operation of ground engaging implements by a coulter. An implement embodying this invention may conveniently mount a coulter 30 at the rearward end of the short arm 20h of the tubular main frame 20. The coulter 30 may be journalled' in conventional fashion on the horizontal arm of an L-shaped rod 30a, the vertical arm of which in turn is journalled in a vertical sleeve 30h mounted in the end of main frame arm 20h. The vertical portion of the L-shaped rod 30a projects out of sleeve 30h and a steering arm 30e is rigidly connected thereto. A link 30d is then pivotally connected between steering arm 30e and the horizontal arm of the nearest pivot pin 25. As best shown in Fig. 5, such pivotal connection may incorporate means for adjusting the eifective length of the link 30e by utilizing a U-shaped connector 3lv which has its bight portion traversed by a threaded end of the link 30e and adjustably secured thereto by a pair of nuts Sla. Bolt 3|b traverses the arms of the U-shaped connector 3l and additionally passes through the horizontal arm 25D of the inverted L-shaped pivot pin 25. In this manner, any tendency of the tractor to turn relative to the implement will be accompanied by a corresponding turn of the coulter 30 in the proper direction to assist in changing the direction of the implement to conform to the new direction of tractor travel.

As previously indicated, the frame construction of this invention may be utilized with implements employing either one or a plurality of ground working tools 23. The flexibility of the described frame construction may be further increased by employing the modified construction shown in reduced scale in Fig. 8, wherein the main frame 40 employs a telescoping arrangement. Such modified main frame 40 may include an L-shaped tubular piece 40a which is telescopingly received by a straight tubular'piece 40h. The effective length of the modified frame 40 may then be conveniently adjusted by varying the exf tent of insertion of the L-shaped member 40a into the straight tubular member 40h. Suitable transverse holes vc are provided, spaced along the length of such tubular members, to receive bolts 4l to retain the two frame pieces in any selected position of relative insertion.

It is therefore apparent that this invention provides an unusually simple, rugged, economically manufacturable frame construction and hitch for ground engaging, lift type implements which may be employed for a large range of sizes of a particular ground engaging implement. Furthermore, the described hitch arrangement minimizes the adverse effects of side draft upon 6 thesteering of the vtractorvto which 'the implement is connected without in any manner interfering with the liftability of the implement.

'It will, of course, vbe understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwisel the forward end of said tongue structure for uni-v versal pivotal connection to the central rear hitch point of the tractor, a pair of hitch elements respectively pivotally connected to the implement at laterally spaced points for movement in a horizontal' plane, each of said hitch elements having a horizontally disposed pivot pin portion oscillatable about a vertical axis only and adapted for respective connection to the tractor hitch links, whereby the implement-tongue structure connection accommodates lifting of the implekment by said hitch links but side ydraft is transmitted to the'tractor only through said tongue structure. l

2. rPhe combination dened in claim l wherein the means on the forward end of said tongue structure includes a transversely extending bar havingl a plurality of transversely spaced apertures therein adapted for selective connection toy the central, rear, hitch point of the tractor.

3. For-usel with a tractor having a central, rear,Y

hitch point and a pair of transversely spaced, power-lifted hitch links universally pivoted to the tractor in trailing relationship, an implement subject to side draft and having a rigid frame, a forwardly projecting tongue structure pivoted to said implement frame for swinging movement about a horizontal axis only, means on the forward end of said tongue structure for universal pivotal connection to the central, rear, hitch point of the tractor, a pair of hitch elements respectively pivotally connected to the implement frame at laterally spaced points for movement in a horizontal plane, each of said hitch elements having horizontally disposed pivot pin portions adapted for pivotal connection to the tractor hitch links, whereby said hitch links are effective to lift said implement but are ineffective to steer said implement, so that implement side draft is transmitted to the tractor only through said tongue structure.

4. For use with a tractor having a central, rear, hitch point and a pair of transversely spaced, power-lifted hitch links universally pivoted tothe tractor in trailing relationship, an implement subject to side draft and having a rigid frame, said rigid frame including a transversely extending structural member, a pair of brackets secured to said structural member at transversely spaced points, each of said brackets defining a vertical axis pivotal bearing, a pair of L-shaped hitch elements having vertical portions respectively pivotally journalled in said vertical axis pivot bearings and horizontal portions respectively adapted for pivotal connection to the tractor hitch links, a forwardly projecting tongue structure pivoted to said brackets on a horizontal axis only, and

means on the .forward end of said tongue structure for universal pivotal connection -to the central rear hitch point of the tractor, whereby the implement is .litable by said hitch links, but transmits side drait to the tractor only through said tongue structure.

5. For use with a tractor having central, rear hitch point and a pair of transversely spaced, power-lifted hitch links universally pivoted to the tractor in trailing relationship, an implement subject to side draft and having a rigid frame, said rigid frame including a transversely extending structural member, a pair of brackets secured to said structural member at transversely spaced points, each of said brackets defining a vertical axis pivotal bearing, a pair of L-shaped hitch elements having vertical portions respectively pivotally journalled in said vertical axis pivot bearings and horizontal portions respectively adapted for pivotal connection to the tractor hitch links, means on each of said brackets defining a horizontal axis pivot bearing and a tongue structure having a pair .of forwardly converging arms respecti ely pivotally connected to said horizontal pivot bearings at their rear ends, and means at the front ends of said converging arms adapted for universal pivotal connection to the central, rear, hitch point of the tractor.

6. The combination dened in claim wherein the last mentioned means includes a transversely extending bar having a plurality of `transversely spaced apertures therein adapted for selective connection to the central, rear, hitch point of the tractor.

7. The combination dened in claim 3 plus a coulter mounted in depending relationship to said rigid frame 'for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, and link means connecting said coulter to one of said horizontally disposed pivot pin portions, thereby controlling the angular position of said coulter relative to said frame as a functionrof theangularipositiono said one horizontally-disposed ypivotppin Iportion relative to the implement fr ame.

8. .For :use witha tractor having a centrally located rear hitch point and transversely spaced trailing :draft links universally pivotally connected vto the tractor, a ground-engaging implement subject to side ldraft and having a rigid frame, laterally extending transversely spaced pivot arms on said frame adapted for connection to fsai'd draft links and freely swingable about a vertical musa-forwardly projecting tongue structure pivoted to said fra-me for movement only in a vertical plane, means for pivotally connecting the forward extremity of said tongue structure to said rear 1hitch rpoint or rboth lateral and vertical movement, means on said frame dening anadditional vertical pivotaxis, acoulter carriedby said frame .or movement about said additional axis, and means steerably connecting said coulter to one of said pivot arms, whereby .said implement transmits `draft to the tractor only through said tongue str ucture and said pivot arms are pivotal about their vertical axes by virtue of their connections to said hitch links to steer said coulter about saidadditional vertical axis.

References Cited -in `the ile of this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number 

